World marks 100-day countdown to 2014 Commonwealth Games

Team South Africa is expected to send just over 150 athletes to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, which begin on 23 July 2014

Monday 14 April saw South Africa and fellow Commonwealth countries around the globe marking the key date of 100 days before the opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland.

The city of Glasgow hosts the Games which will begin on 23 July and end on 3 August.

Glasgow 2014 marked the milestone with a giant ‘100’ painted onto the grass pitch of Hampden Park, Scotland’s national football stadium which will be temporarily transformed into the athletics venue for the Games. Hampden Park is the centrepiece of the Games with more than a thousand track and field athletes going all out for gold and glory in over 48 events during the seven days of competition.

SASCOC is currently extremely busy with team preparations, with the size of Team South Africa expected to be just over 150 with slightly more male than female representatives.

Team South Africa will assemble for the pre-departure camp on 14 July and will attend a farewell banquet on 15 July before jetting out to Scotland the following day.

South Africa has competed at eleven of the nineteen Commonwealth Games which have been held; from the original Games in 1930 to 1958, and from 1994. South Africa was fifth on the medals table at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, with 12 golds, 11 silvers and 10 bronze medals.

Meanwhile, Durban, South Africa, and Edmonton, Canada, have formally advised their intention to bid for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. SASCOC President Gideon Sam said, â€œOver the years we have shown our ability to stage the biggest sporting events, with Rugby and Cricket World Cups being an example, plus of course the 2010 FIFA World Cup. We’ve done exhaustive background work and are now of the opinion the country is ready for a major multi-code sports event and we are proud to announce our intention to bid for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. It’s a huge step forward in our history — and that of the African continent.”